Good evening Jaguar Families, 

We are closing in on the end of Semester 1 which is very exciting, but we still have much more to accomplish academically for all students.  December begins our second opportunity for progress monitoring and we know our students and teachers are prepared.  PM2 Testing begins this week for Math and ELA as well as the 8th Grade Science SSA.  Please make sure you are help reflect with your students on their PM1 data so that they are motivated to show gains as they start the 2^nd round of testing. 

Picture retake day is tomorrow, December 4^th.  Students who missed the original picture day or those that are not happy with the originals will be eligible for retakes.  If students received original photos, they need to bring back the packet to return to the photographers.

Basketball Tryouts will also begin tomorrow with the boys at 7:50 am and girls at 4:15 pm.  Paperwork should have already been submitted to Coach Rusell or Coach Gummo.

Finally, we will be conducting the Scripps Spelling Bee at Thurgood on December 20th.  Students who are interested need to attend the after school extended learning sessions on Tuesday and Thursday of this week in room 5-114 from 4:15 to 5:15.

Please make sure to look at the calendar of events as we have a variety of offerings this month.  Meetings, events, and field trips are all listed on the calendar in the attached email.  All events labeled with a star are available for earning parental meeting credits.

If you have any questions, please call the school at 727-552-1737 during normal operating hours.

Have a great rest of your weekend, thank you for your time, and Go Jaguars!

 

Monday, December 4^th is an A Day – Periods 1-4

 

Upcoming Events

11/26 – 12/22 – PCS Stakeholder Survey for Families

• https://survey.k12insight.com/r/23-24PinellasParentpublicaccess 

12/4 – Picture Retakes for all students/8^th Grade Panoramic/Full Faculty Photo

• Students wanting replacement pictures need to bring their original packet to return to the photography company

12/4 – Basketball Tryouts begin (Boys from 7:50-8:50 am and Girls from 4:15-5:15 pm)

12/4 – 12/15 – YMCA – Donation Collections (details below)

12/6 – Drama Booster Meeting 6:00 – 7:30

*12/11 – SAC Meeting 6:00 – 7:00 pm (Virtual – link will be sent next week)

*12/12 – Winter Band Concert – 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the Gym

*12/13 - Winter Chorus Concert @ Boca Ciega HS – 7:00 – 8:15 pm

*12/14 – Winter Orchestra Concert @ St. Petersburg HS 7:00-9:00 pm

12/20 – TMFMS Spelling Bee

 

PCS Stakeholder Survey for Families (November 26^th – December 22^nd)

Your voice matters! We value your opinion and appreciate you taking time to complete this survey. Your anonymous opinion provides guidance to improve your school, identifies things that are working well at your school, and informs its accreditation. The 2023-24 Stakeholder survey window closes December 22, 2023. 

Families, please use the link below to submit your opinion.

Family Link:  https://survey.k12insight.com/r/23-24PinellasParentpublicaccess 

 

Spelling Bee at TMFMS

The Thurgood Spelling Bee, scheduled for 12/20, will be available to all interested students that participate in the tutoring/ELP with Ms. Taylor after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Spelling Bee – Tutoring and Sign up (Tuesday and Thursday 12/5 – 12/19 from 4:15 to 5:15

 

YMCA “Neighbor-to-Neighbor Christmas Program”

Please join the Principal’s Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC) in supporting the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Christmas Program by donating unwrapped toys for needy families. 

 

In keeping with the spirit of the holidays, this program has been uniting the community for the past 30 years, by providing gifts and food to low-income families.

 

We will collect donations at the car circle and next to the elevator before and after school. Your child can also drop items at the front office.

We will be collecting from 12/4  until 12/15

Please join us in continuing this worthy tradition of caring for our community!

 

PM2 FAST Assessments for Math and Language Arts

We want to update you about the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), a system designed to monitor your child's progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards. Administered three times a year, this assessment tracks their growth in ELA Reading and Mathematics throughout the school year.

Your child will take the Grade 6-8 FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments during PM 2, scheduled from 12/4 to 12/14. Please note that the results from PM2 are for informational purposes only, and details on how to access them will be provided after testing concludes.

FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests, adjusting difficulty based on your child's responses. Each attempt covers 35-40 items, representing standards within the subject or grade level. You can learn more about the test design at https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. To familiarize yourself or your child with the online testing platform and review sample items for ELA Reading and Mathematics, visit https://flfast.org/families.html.

Thank you for your support in your child's education.

Monday 12.4        A Day	Tuesday 12.5        B Day	Wednesday 12.6 A Day	Thursday 12.7 B Day	Friday 12.8 A Day
AM: Watkins-102	McClain: 133	AM Kendricks: 100 PM: Collora-79	AM: Stenger- 113   PM: Drugan- 90	Kissick: 93   8th grade Science in 8th grade hall
Monday 12.11 B Day	Tuesday 12.12 A Day	Wednesday 12.13 B Day	Thursday 12.14 A Day	Friday 12.15 B Day
AM: Russell- 64   PM: Greth- 93	Myers: 73	Silva: 115	Civics 7th and 8th Media Center: Stone Vines: 5-215,           5-202,4-111,           4-201,5-102,

 

 

 

Basketball Club – Intramurals Tryouts and Informational Meeting

Coaches can be contacted at russellth@pcsb.org and gummob@pcsb.org

Tryouts begin 12/4 (Boys 7:50 AM, Girls 4:15 PM)

Items needed to Participate with the Basketball Club (must be completed by 11/27)

• School Insurance https://www.pcsb.org/Page/15271
• Doctors Physical
• Middle School Activity Form https://www.pcsb.org/Page/40658
• 2.0 GPA or higher

NOTE – If you have already submitted these forms for Volleyball or Cheerleading, you will not be required to submit them again. 

 

Construction of Roadways to Soon Impact TMFMS Sidewalk on 22^nd Ave S

In mid to late December, The 22^nd Ave S. roadway, sidewalk and drainage improvement project will construct a sidewalk on the north side of the road and fill in sidewalk gaps on the south side of the road while upgrading ADA features at the side streets.  The project also includes a construction of a center left turn lane in front of Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School.

Here is what we can expect:

• Sidewalk on Northside of 22^nd Ave will be closed in front of school
• Gate at main entrance of Thurgood on 22^nd Ave will be closed to pedestrians
• Gate on 38^th Street on the North side of 22^nd Ave will be open to pedestrians to enter campus on the Southeast corner in morning and exit in afternoon
• Students walking to and from school will have access to the sidewalk on the South side of 22^nd Ave S and
• When we return on January 8^th all student walkers and bike riders who would be travelling to or from the West will have to make use of the detour. The trail has a signaled crosswalk with flashers to the West. There is a crossing guard at the corner of 38^th St S. on the Southeast corner of the school.

Fundamental Policy Reminders

An Increase has been identified for Infractions that are being tracking in our Student Conductor system for Dress Code, Tardies, Lunch misconduct, and much more.  These are the items to remind students about each day as they prepare to leave for school:

* Ripped/Torn Jeans are not permitted

* Gum is not permitted at school

* Skirts/dresses/shorts are not to be more than three inches above the knee

NOTE: These infractions will continue to be tracked and students who continue violation of these guidelines will be provided consequences based on progressive discipline.

 

1^st Block Enrichment – School-Wide Initiatives:

The following activities/interventions will be used during 1^st/5^th Blocks every day during our enrichment opportunities.  For 20 minutes, we will focus on our school-wide interventions and climate and culture initiatives as they relate to school improvement goals.  Next week’s schedule is below:

12\4	12\5	12\6	12\7	12\8
A: Get Spotted Reading	B: IXL Math	A: Leader in Me	B: Jag-Gram	A: Leader in Me
		Module 11/Lesson 3		Module 11/Lesson 4

 

PLEASE Update Parent Contact Info in Focus

Parents, please make sure you are updating your email and phone numbers in Focus so we can ensure you are receiving the most up-to-date information regarding school events, testing, academic achievements, athletics, etc.  These contact types can be updated if you go to the parent login in in Focus, look for the shortcuts on the right side of the screen, and update/change your contact information.  Addresses are still not able to be changed this was as you have to show two proofs of residency.

 

Athletics at Thurgood

This year we established sports beyond intramurals that have the potential to play against other local schools. What this mean is that we will need to buy equipment and jerseys that are required without having a budget designated for schools that do not officially have an athletic program. We are requesting donations or resources so this can be possible.  Any monetary or resource donation would  be greatly appreciated. The sports that we are planning this year are the following: golf, volleyball, basketball, flag football and track. Hopefully as the programs grow and opportunities arise this will be a fully developed part of Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School.

The process to give is through the school bookkeeper’s office – checks are the preferred method of donation payment. Please make checks payable to TMFMS with the memo line to read “Athletic Supplies.”

 

$1 Donuts – TMFMS Theater Booster Fundraiser

Wednesday Morning; $1 in Bus Circle & Car Circle

All Sales Support TMFMS Theater Boosters

 

STEM Club

The TMFMS STEM Club will be meeting on Wednesdays and Thursdays in room 5-207 from 4:15-5:15

• Wednesdays – Engineering and Design
• Thursdays - Robotics

 

Cheerleading Club

Practice: Tuesday and Thursday from 4:15-5:15 in the Fitness Room

Required items to continue participation with the Cheerleading Club:

• School Insurance https://www.pcsb.org/Page/15271
• Doctors Physical
• Middle School Activity Form https://www.pcsb.org/Page/40658
• 2.0 GPA or higher
• Great Attitude!!!!

Club Dues are $20

 

Reporting an Absence

Parents, if your student is out sick please make sure you are reporting the student absence on our school website.  In the top right corner of the TMFMS website you will see an icon that says "Student Absence." Click on the icon and you will see a large blue circle that says "Report Student Absence."  Once you open the blue icon it will open an email to our attendance clerk. In the email please state:  your child's name, date of birth, grade level, date of absence and reason for the absence.

 

Dress Code 

• Please use the link below to access the Thurgood Marshall Dress Code for the 2023-2024 School year.  
• https://www.pcsb.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=102&ModuleInstanceID=62205&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=111833&PageID=197 
• Hoodies are not permitted on campus.  Students are only permitted to wear jackets, sweatshirts, or long sleaved items as long as they do not have an attached hood.  All items must adhere to the Fundamental Policies, be school appropriate, and meet the guidelines set forth in the PCS Student Code of Conduct. 
• We have provided multiple warnings and submitted a variety of dress code violations for this infraction.  Starting Monday, Hoodies will be confiscated if they are being worn on campus.  Parents will be able to pick the hoodies up at the front office during normal operating hours.  Keeping a hoodie in a backpack or locker is fine as long as it is not out or worn.

 

UPDATED - TMFMS – Meeting Calendar of Events

23.24 TMFMS Meeting Calendar.docx 

Please review the attached document that includes the current list of scheduled events for the year.  Use this calendar to guide yourself in deciding which meetings to attend for your meeting credit options.  Remember, you will need to attend 6 meetings this year to be in compliance with the Fundamental schools parent agreement.  As of right now, we have 27 events scheduled that can earn your credits.  There are also options for volunteer work, chaperones, booster groups and committees that allow for you to earn credits as pertaining to the parent agreement and Fundamental policy.

 

R'Club

If you are interested in enrolling your child/ren at R'Club where we focus on teaching Respect, Resourcefulness, Responsibility and Responsiveness then this is the program for you for before and aftercare! Please contact Roshelle Foster (Director) AKA Ms. Ro for more details. First come first served. I may be contacted @ (727)323-7041/(727)433-4346

 

Cell Phone Policy – Phones are to remain away all day. 

Phones that are out in any school setting can be confiscated and provided to the front office where a parent will have to pick up.  Phones that are confiscated will not be handed back to students at the end of the day.  Students may use phones in the morning as they wait to enter the building, but once they enter for breakfast, the phones are put away.  Students are also permitted to use phones after school ends as they wait for buses and parent pick up.

School Lunch

Free to All Students (students will use their Lunch PIN to log they have received a lunch.  This PIN will also be used for our Tardy tracking system which will begin next week)

 

School Hours – Student hours are from 9:40 – 4:10 Monday through Friday. 

• Students can be dropped off by parents in the car circle located behind the school off of 19th Ave South.   
• Students should not arrive to campus before 9:10 each day. 
• Students will be permitted to enter campus at 9:10 each morning where they will report to the cafeteria for breakfast. 
• Students must be picked up by 4:40 each afternoon. 
• If students are participating in any ELP, Tutoring, Enrichment, or club opportunities, they must be picked up by 5:15pm. 

 

Thank you for your time, 

Kevin Schottler